Centrifugal separator and analyzing means



Oct. 12, 1965 R. B. HARVEY CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR AND ANALYZING MEANSFiled April 10, 1962 [.L g l.

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Ill! /ll/llllll INVENTOR. @vorvsy 5. H4 vsy United States Patent3,211,530 CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATGR AND ANALYZING MEANS Rodney B. Harvey,Stillwater, Minn., assignor to Technicon Instruments Corporation,Chauncey, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 10, 1962, Ser. No.186,407 12 Claims. (Cl. 23253) This invention relates to centrifugalseparators.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved centrifugeof relatively simple and inexpensive construction for the separation ofat least one substance from a mixture of substances.

Another object is the provision of a continuous centrifuge which isespecially well adapted for use in a system for treating and analyzingone or more of the separated substances concurrently with thecentrifuging operation in a continuous fashion.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the inventionwill be more fully understood from the following description of theinvention considered in connection with the accompanying drawings whichare to be considered merely illustrative of the invention and not inlimitation thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a continuous centrifuge in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a detail perspective view of the inlet end of a take-off tubeof the centerifuge, and

FIG. 4 is a more or less diagrammatic view illustrating a continuousanalysis method and apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the centrifuge comprisesa rotary vessel 12 suitably mounted for rotation about its longitudinalaxis 14. One end of the vessel is provided with an extending member 16which is adapted to be connected to a motor 18 (FIG. 4) for rotating thevessel about its longitudinal axis. The opposite end 2 of the vessel isopen and its cylindrical internal side wall 22 is provided with a seriesof parallel circular grooves 24 laterally spaced from each other axiallyof the vessel in planes normal to the axis of rotation of the vessel.

The grooves are V-shaped and are in communication with the interior ofthe vessel. With the exception of groove 24a, the grooves 24b, 24c, 24dand 24e increase progressively in diameter from the inner end 30 of thevessel to the open end and are in communication at their respectivebottoms with a pair of diametrically opposite passages 32 which extendlongitudinally of the vessel and diverge outwardly from the inner end ofthe vessel to the open end 20. The ends of the passages, adjacent theopen end of the vessel, are closed by plugs 34. It is to be noted thatthe grooves are separated from each other by the walls 36 of the vesseland groove 24a does not communicate with passages 32. The invention isnot limited to the indicated number of passages 32.

A stationary inlet tube 38 extends longitudinally through the open end20 of the vessel into the interior thereof and is positioned in lateraloffset relation with respect to the longitudinal axis 14 of the vessel.The outlet end 49 of the tube is positioned with respect to groove 24bso that the incoming mixture is introduced into the vessel in thevicinity of said groove for the separation of the lighter substance inthe mixture from the heavier substance as a result of the rotation ofthe vessel. A stationary take-off tube 42 for the separated heaviersubstance of the mixture is provided with its inlet end 44 positioned ingroove 24:: for receiving the separated heavier substance which istransmitted to said groove through passages 32. Another stationarytake-off tube 46 is provided with its inlet end 48 in position in groove24a to receive the separated lighter substance from the groove fortransmission from the centrifuge. The tubes may be convenientlysupported in a stationary apertured plug 50 mounted independently ofvessel 10 or by any other suitable means.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, each inlet end 44 and 48 of the take-offtubes 42 and 46, respectively, are parallel to and confront the adjacentsurface of the corresponding groove and the inlet end of the passage 51(FIG. 3A) of each tube extends perpendicularly from the end of thecorresponding tube. The peripheral shape of the inlet end of each tubeand the part adjacent thereto is that of an airfoil or hydroplane, asshown in FIG. 3A, with its leading edge 53 confronting the oncomingseparated substance, which is moving in a counterclockwise direction asviewed in FIGS. 2 and 3. The airfoil or hydroplane shape minimizes to atolerable degree or entirely eliminates excessive stirring and splashingof the fluids and the formation of drops of fluid on the ends of thetubes which would periodically fall off resulting in mixing andcontamination of the separated substances. It is to be noted that theshape of the inlet ends of the take-off tubes is such that the kineticenergy of the moving substances does not affect the removal of thesubstances from the centrifuge.

In the operation of the apparatus, the material which is to undergocentrifuging is introduced into groove 24b through the outlet end 40 ofinlet tube 38 and due to the centrifugal force created by the rapidrotation of the vessel, the separable heavier constitutent of thematerial moves outwardly from the axis toward the bottom of the grooveand the lighter constituent of the material moves axially of the vesseltoward the next groove. The separated heavier constitutent moves intopassage 32 and as additional material is introduced into groove 24b, thelighter constituent of the mixture as well as part of the heavierconstituent which has not separated from the mixture flow over the topof groove 24b and flow longitudinally along wall 22 to the adjacentgroove 240. Since this groove has a larger diameter than the previousgroove, the material in the groove is subjected to a greater centrifugalforce than in the previous groove whereby additional separation of theheavier constituent from the lighter constituent occurs and theseparated heavier constituent passes into the passage 32. The remainingmaterial including the separated lighter constituent overflow into thenext groove 24a and because of the larger diameter of said groove, thematerial therein is subjected to a greater centrifugal force than in theprevious grooves.

The separated heavier constituent from grooves 24b, 24c and 24d istransmitted by the centrifugal forces resulting from the rotation of thevessel through passage 32 and into groove 24e where it is removed fromthe centrifuge by the aspirating action of take-off tube 42, which isconnected to a suction pump, not shown. The separated lighterconstituent of the material is collected in groove 24a, which is out ofcommunication with passage 32, and is transmitted from that groove bytake-off tube 46 in a manner similar to the removal actionsimultaneously occurring in groove 24e.

The centrifuge of this invention is especially useful for separating andremoving solid or semi-solid particles or material which may be presentin a liquid, for example, separation and removal of proteinaceousmaterial from blood serum or blood plasma in the quantitative anaylsisthereof in respect to its cholesterol content. For such determination,the serum or plasma may be treated With isopropyl alcohol to precipitatethe proteins which are then removed by the centrifuge from the lightermaterial.

After the protein is separated from the blood by the centrifugingoperation, it is collected in groove 24s and removed therefrom bytake-off tube 42.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a liquid analysis or treatmentapparatus 52 which may be utilized for treating blood Serum or bloodplasma to determine its cholesterol content. In addition to thecontinuous centrifuge 10, the apparatus includes a sample supply device54, a proportioning pump 56, a colorimeter 58 having a flow cuvette ofthe continuous flow type and a recorder 60 operable under the control ofthe colorimeter. The liquid samples which are to be treated for analysisor other processing are provided in open top receptacles 62 which arearranged in a circular row on a rotary support plate 64 which isintermittently rotated to position successive receptacles below theinlet end of an inlet aspiratin-g tube 66. A portion of the sample formeach receptacle is aspirated from its respective receptacle by theaction of pump 56 and flows as a stream through supply tube 68 and pumptube 70 where it joins a stream of inert gas, for example air, which issupplied through pump tube 72, and a stream of precessing liquid ordiluent, which is supplied through pump tube 74. In the treatment ofblood serum or blood plasma to determine its cholesterol content, pumptube 74 is supplied with a solution of isopropyl alcohol which is aprecipitant for the proteinaceous material in the serum or plasma.

The separate streams merge at fitting 76 and form a segmented streamconsisting of a series of liquid segments separated from each other byintervening segments of air. The introduction of air or other inert gasinto the tubes or passages through which the sample flows provides aself-cleansing action for said passages as explained in US. Patent No,2,797,149 issued June 25, 1957.

The sample supply device 54 can be of the type shown in US. Patent No.2,946,665 issued July 26, 1960, but is preferably of the type shown anddescribed in the US. application of Jack Isreeli, Serial No. 664,403filed June 18, 1957 and assigned to the assignee of the presentapplication. As explained in said patent and application, the operationof the supply device results in a segment of air being introduced intothe intake tube 66 between successive samples so that the samples areseparated from each other by air as well as each sample being dividedinto a series of liquid segments separated from each other by anintervening air segment.

The segmented stream is transmitted by the action of the pump through aconduit 78 to a horizontal helical mixing coil 80 wherein theconstituents in each liquid segment are mixed together in the respectivesegments and the mixed stream is transmitted to the inlet tube 38 of thecentrifuge via conduit 82.

' The precepitate resulting from the treatment of the sample with theprecipitant is separated from the sample in the centrifuge in the mannerdescribed above and the sample, devoid of the precipitate, is aspiratedfrom the centrifuge through take-off tube 46 by the aspirating action ofpump 56 due to the connection of tube 46 with pump tube 84 via conduit86.

Concurrently with the flow of the sample from the centrifuge throughpump tube 84, air or other inert fluid and a suitable color producingreagent are transmitted through pump tubes 88 and 90, respectively. Thestreams merge in fitting 92 and the resulting segmented stream istransmitted by the action of the pump to helical mixing coil 94 and theresulting segmented colored stream is transmitted from the mixing coilto the flow cuvette (not shown) of the colorimeter 58, via conduit 96,wherein the color density or light absorption characteristic of thestream is measured and recorded on the recorder 60 which is opera-tedunder the control of the colorimeter and provides a measurement which isindicative of the quantity of the substance present in the sample streamsupplied by supply device 54. The stream is discharged from the flowcuvette of the colorimeter through outlet 98.

It will be understood that in the case of blood analysis forcholesterol, the color producing reagent is a solution of ferricchloride in concentrated sulfuric acid. The resulting color density ofthe treated stream is an indication of the cholesterol content of thesample.

It will be understood that the apparatus may be used for the treatmentof many fluids for analysis with respect to an ingredient thereof andthe choice of the processing liquids and color reagents used will dependupon the fluid being anaylzed. It will be understood that the presentinvention is independent of any specific method of chemical analysis ortreatment but, on the contrary, may be employed in performing any methodwhich necessarily or advantageously makes use of a centrifuge forremoving or separating a particular substance or material from another.

Proportioning pump 56, which is schematically illustrated, is preferablyof the type shown and described in US. Patent No. 2,935,028 issued May3, 1960. In such pump, the pump tubes are resiliently flexible and arecompressed progressively along their lengths by pressure rollers whichare moved in engagement with the tubes longitudinally thereof. Thequantities of fluids pumped through the various tub-es depend upon theinternal diameter of the respective tubes since the tubes aresimultaneously compressed by the rollers as they move longitudinallyalong the tubes for the pumping operation. It is within the scope of thepresent invention to provide pumps other than that indicated and ifdesired or necessary, separate pumps may be provided for pumping theindividual fluids in lieu of the proportioning pump as indicated.

The colorimeter and recorder are well known types and since they do not,per se, form part of the invention, further description of these devicesis unnecessary. It is within the scope of the invention to providemeasuring means other than a colorimeter, for example and withoutlimitation, a spectral-flame analyzer.

Although the liquid treatment apparatus 52 is shown with a sample supplydevice 54 for supplying a plurality of individual samples in successionto the treatment apparatus, it is within the scope of this invention tosupply a continuous sample stream for treatment as, for example, in amonitoring operation. It is also within the scope of the presentinvention to treat or analyze either one of the separated substances ofthe mixture and it is also within the scope of the invention tosimultaneously treat and analyze both of the separated substances.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and thatcertain changes in the form and arrangement of parts and in the specificmanner of practicing the invention may be made without departing fromthe underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scopeofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A centrifuge for separating substances of different specificgravities, respectively, present in the form of a mixture of saidsubstances, said centrifuge comprising, a rotary vessel mounted forrotation about its longitudinal axis and having an internal wall surfaceprovided with first, second and third grooves laterally spaced from eachother axially along the wall surface, means for introducing the mixtureinto said first groove for the separation of said substances as a resultof the rotation of said vessel, passage means in communication with thebottoms of said first and third grooves for receiving the separatedheavier substance from said first groove and transmitting it to saidthird groove during rotation of said vessel, means in communication withsaid third groove for re moving said heavier substance therefromconcurrently with the rotation of said vessel, said second groove beinglocated in said wall surface between said first and third grooves inposition to receive and collect the separated lighter substance fromsaid first groove, and means in communication with said second groovefor withdrawing said lighter substance therefrom concurrently with therotation of said vessel.

2. A centrifuge for separating substances of different specificgravities, respectively, present in the form of a mixture of saidsubstances, said centrifuge comprising, a rotary vessel mounted forrotation about its longitudinal axis and having an internal wall surfaceprovided with first, second and third grooves laterally spaced from eachother axially along the wall surface, said Wall surface diverging fromsaid axis in the direction from said first groove to said third groove,means for introducing the mixture into said first groove for theseparation of said substances as a result of the rotation of saidvessel, passage means in communication with the bottoms of said firstand third grooves for receiving the separated heavier substance fromsaid first groove and transmitting it to said third groove duringrotation of said vessel, means in communication with said third groovefor removing said heavier substance therefrom concurrently with therotation of said vessel, said second groove being located in said wallsurface between said first and third grooves in position to receive andcollect the separated lighter substance from said first groove, andmeans in communication with said second groove for withdrawing saidlighter substance therefrom concurrently with the rotation of saidvessel.

3. A centrifuge for separating substances of different specificgravities, respectively, present in the form of a mixture of saidsubstances, said centrifuge comprising, a rotary vessel mounted forrotation about its longitudinal axis and having an internal wall surfaceprovided with first, second and third grooves laterally spaced from eachother axially along the Wall surface, said Wall surface diverging fromsaid axis in the direction from said first groove to said third groove,means for introducing the mixture into said first groove for theseparation of said substances as a result of the rotation of saidvessel, passage means diverging from said axis in communication with thebottoms of said first and third grooves for receiving the separatedheavier substance from said first groove and transmitting it to saidthird groove during rotation of said vessel, means in communication withsaid third groove for removing said heavier substance therefromconcurrently with the rotation of said vessel, said second groove beinglocated in said wall surface out of communication with said passagemeans between said first and third grooves in position to receive andcollect the separated lighter substance from said first groove, andmeans in communication with said second groove for withdrawing saidlighter substance therefrom concurrently with the rotation of saidvessel.

4. A centrifuge for separating substances of different specificgravities, respectively, present in the form of a mixture of saidsubstances, said centrifuge comprising, a rotary vessel mounted forrotation about its longitudinal axis and having an internal wall surfaceprovided with first, second and third grooves laterally spaced from eachother axially along the wall surface, means for introducing the mixtureinto said first groove for the separation of said substances as a resultof the rotation of said vessel, passage means in communication with thebottoms of said first and third grooves for receiving the separatedheavier substance from said first groove and transmitting it to saidthird groove during rotation of said vessel, means in communication withsaid third groove for removing said heavier substances therefromconcurrently with the rotation of said vessel, said second groove beinglocated in said wall surface between said first and third grooves inposition to receive and collect the separated lighter substance fromsaid first groove, means in communication with said second groove forwithdrawing said lighter substance therefrom concurrently with therotation of said vessel, and a fourth groove in said wall surfacebetween said first and second grooves with said passage means being incommunication with the bottom thereof, said fourth groove receiving aportion of said mixture from said first groove for the separationthereof into said lighter and heavier substances in like manner.

5. A centrifuge for separating substances of different specificgravities, respectively, present in the form of a mixture of saidsubstances, said centrifuge comprising, a rotary vessel mounted forrotation about its longitudinal axis and having an internal wall surfaceprovided with first, second and third grooves laterally spaced from eachother axially along the wall surface, means for introducing the mixtureinto said first groove for the separation of said substances as a resultof the rotation of said vessel, passage means in communication with thebottoms of said first and third grooves for receiving the separatedheavier substance from said first groove and transmit-ting it to saidthird groove during rotation of said vessel, means in communication withsaid third groove for removing said heavier substance therefromconcurrently with the rotation of said vessel, said second groove beinglocated in said wall surface between said first and third grooves inposition to receive and collect the separated lighter substance fromsaid first groove, and means in communication with said second groovefor withdrawing said lighter substance therefrom concurrently with therotation of said vessel, said second groove being of greater diameterthan said first groove and said third groove being of greater diameterthan said second groove.

6. A centrifuge for separating substances of different specificgravities, respectively, present in the form of a mixture of saidsubstances, said centrifuge comprising, a rotary vessel mounted forrotation about its longitudinal axis and having an open end and aninternal wall surface extending from said open end longitudinally ofsaid axis, first, second and third endless grooves provided in said wallsurface laterally spaced from each other axially thereof and inconfronting communicating relation with the interior of said vessel,stationary means extending through said open end into said interior ofsaid vessel for introducing said mixture into said first groove for theseparation of the substances as a result of the rotation of said vessel,passage means in communication with the bottoms of said first and thirdgrooves for receiving the separated heavier substance from said firstgroove and transmitting it to said third groove during rotation of saidvessel, stationary outlet means extending through said open end intocommunication with said third groove for removing said heavier substancetherefrom concurrently with the rotation of said vessel, said secondgroove being located in said wall surface between said first and thirdgrooves in position to receive and collect the separated lightersubstance from said first groove and stationary outlet means extendingthrough said open end into communication with said second groove forremoving said separated lighter substance therefrom concurrently withthe rotation of said vessel.

7. A centrifuge for separating substances of different specificgravities, respectively, present in the form of a mixture of saidsubstances, said centrifuge comprising, a rotary vessel mounted forrotation about its longitudinal axis and having an open end and aninternal wall surface extending from said open end longitudinally ofsaid axis, first, second and third endless grooves provided in said wallsurface laterally spaced from eachother axially thereof and inconfronting communicating relation with the interior of said vessel,said wall surface diverging from said axis in the direction from saidfirst groove to said third groove, stationary means extending throughsaid open end into said interior of said vessel for introducing saidmixture into said first groove for the separation of the substances as aresult of the rotation of said vessel, passage means in communicationwith the bottoms of said first and third grooves for receiving the 7 t Vr separated heavier substance from said first groove and transmitting itto said third groove during rotation of said vessel, stationary outletmeans extending through said open end into communication with said thirdgroove for removing said heavier substance therefrom concurrently withthe rotation of said vessel, said second groove being located in saidwall surface between said first and third grooves in position to receiveand collect the separated lighter substance from said first groove, andstationary outlet means extending through said open end intocommunication with said second groove for removing said separatedlighter substance therefrom concurrently with the rotation of saidvessel.

8. A centrifuge for separating substances of different specificgravities, respectively, present in the form of a mixture of saidsubstances, said centrifuge comprising, a rotary vessel mounted forrotation about its longitudinal axis and having an open end and aninternal wall surface extending from said open end longitudinally ofsaid axis, first, second and third endless grooves provided in said wallsurface laterally spaced from each other axially thereof and inconfronting communicating relation with the interior of said vessel,said wall surface diverging from said axis in the direction from saidfirst groove to said third groove, stationary means extending throughsaid open end into said interior of said vessel for introducing saidmixture into said first groove for the separation of the substances as aresult of the rotation of said vessel, passage means diverging from saidaxis in communication with the bottoms of said first and third groovesfor receiving the separated heavier substance from said first groove andtransmitting it to said third groove during rotation of said vessel,stationary outlet means extending through said open end intocommunication with said third groove for removing said heavier substancetherefrom concurrently with the rotation of said vessel, said secondgroove being located in said wall surface out of communication with saidpassage means between said first and third grooves in position toreceive and collect the separated lighter substance from said firstgroove, and stationary outlet means extending through said open end intocommunication with said second groove for removing said separatedlighter subsance therefrom concurrently with the rotation of saidvessel.

9. A centrifuge for separating substances of different specificgravities, respectively, present in the form of a mixture of saidsubstances, said centrifuge comprising, a rotary vessel mounted forrotation about its longitudinal axis and having an open end and aninternal wall surface extending from said open end longitudinally ofsaid axis, first, second and third endless grooves provided in said wallsurface laterally spaced from each other axially thereof and inconfronting communicating relation with the interior of said vessel,stationary means extending through said open end into said interior ofsaid vessel for introducing said mixture into said first groove for theseparation of the substances as a result of the rotation of said vessel,passage means in communication with the bottoms of said first and thirdgrooves for receiving the separated heavier substance from said firstgroove and transmitting it to said third groove during rotation of saidvessel, stationary outlet means extending through said open end intocommunication with said third groove for removing said heavier substancetherefrom concurrently with the rotation of said vessel, said secondgroove being located in said wall surface between said first and thirdgrooves in position to receive and collect the separated lightersubstance from said first groove, stationary outlet means extendingthrough said open end into communication with said second groove forremoving said separated lighter substance therefrom concurrently withthe rotation of said vessel, and a fourth endless groove in said wallsurface between said first and second grooves with said passage meansbeing in communication with the bottom thereof, said fourth groovereceiving a V U r l l portion of said mixture from said first groove forthe separation thereof into said lighter and heavier substances in likemanner.

10. A centrifuge for separating substances of different specificgravities, respectively, present in the form of a mixture of saidsubstances, said centrifuge comprising, a rotary vessel mounted forrotation about its longitudinal axis and having an open end and aninternal wall surface extending from said open end longitudinally ofsaid axis, first, second and third endless grooves provided in said Wallsurface laterally spaced from each other axially thereof and inconfronting communicating relation with the interior of said vessel,stationary means extending through said open end into said interior ofsaid vessel for introducing said mixture into said first groove for theseparation of the substances as a result of the rotation of said vessel,passage means in communication with the bottoms of said first and thirdgrooves for receiving the separated heavier substance from said firstgroove and transmitting it to said third groove during rotation of saidvessel, stationary outlet means extending through said open end intocommunication with said third groove for removing said heavier substancetherefrom concurrently with the rotation of said vessel, said secondgroove being located in said wall surface between said first and thirdgrooves in position to receive and collect the separated lightersubstance from said first groove, and stationary outlet means extendingthrough said open end into communication with said second groove forremoving said separated lighter substance therefrom concurrently withthe rotation of said vessel, said second groove being of greaterdiameter than said first groove and said third groove being of greaterdiameter than said second groove.

11. Apparatus for continuously processing a liquid having twoconstituents of different specific gravities, comprising: source meansfor continuously supplying the liquid; a rotary vessel mounted forrotation about its longitudinal axis having a wall defining a conicalcentral cavity, three grooves in said wall longitudinally spaced apart,and a passageway through said wall interconnecting the apex proximalgroove with the apex remote groove; motive means coupled to said rotaryvessel for rotating said vessel about said longitudinal axis; firstconduit means having an inlet coupled to said source means and an outletin fluid fiow communication with said apex proximal groove, forconveying the liquid to said apex proximal groove as a stream; saidvessel serving as a centrifuge whereby the heavier constituent of theliquid passes through said passageway from said apex proximal groove tosaid apex remote groove, and the lighter constituent of the liquidpasses along said wall from said apex proximal groove to the medialgroove; analysis means; second conduit means having an outlet coupled tosaid analysis means and an inlet in fluid flow communication with onegroove of the group of grooves consisting of said apex remote groove andsaid medial groove, for conveying the constituent therein to saidanaylsis means; and third conduit means having an inlet in fluid flowcommunication with the other groove of said group of grooves, forconveying the constituent, therein from said other groove.

12. Apparatus for continuously processing a liquid having twoconstituents of different specific gravities, comprising: source meansfor continuously supplying the liquid; a rotary vessel mounted forrotation about its longitudinal axis having a wall defining a conicalcentral cavity, three grooves in said wall longitudinally spaced apart,and a passageway through said wall interconnecting the apex proximalgroove with the apex remote groove; motive means coupled to said rotaryvessel for rotating said vessel about said longitudinal axis; firstconduit means having an inlet coupled to said source means and an outletin fluid flow communication with said apex proximal groove, forconveying the liquid to said apex proximal groove as a stream; saidvessel servas a centrifuge whereby the heavier constituent of the liquidpasses through said passageway from said apex proximal groove to saidapex remote groove, and the lighter constituent of the liquid passesalong said wall from said apex proximal groove to the bedial groove;analysis means; pump means; second conduit means having an inlet coupledto the outlet of said pump means, and an outlet coupled to the inlet ofsaid analysis means; third conduit means having an inlet end ofhydroplane shape with its leading edge confronting the oncomingseparated constituent as said vessel is rotated, and closely spaced fromthe surface of and in fluid flow communication with one groove of thegroup of grooves consisting of said apex remote groove and said medialgroove, and an outlet coupled to the inlet of said pump means, forconveying the constituent in said one groove to said analysis means; andfourth conduit means having an inlet end of hydroplane shape with itsleading edge confronting the oncoming separated constituent as saidvessel is rotated, and closely spaced from the surface of and in 1'0fluid flow communication with the other groove of said group of grooves,for conveying the constituent therein from said other groove.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 498,828 6/93Wahlin 233-28 X 529,662 11/94 Naylor 233-18 X 533,316 1/95 Naylor 233-46X 585,936 7/97 Linders 233-28 669,732 3/01 Ohlsson 233-38 1,190,466 7/16Schifferle 233-28 X 2,113,160 4/38 Murphree et a1 233-22 2,447,330 8/48Grebmeier 233-26 2,688,437 9/54 Monnet 233-46 X 3,079,133 2/ 63 Wilsman2'3'3-2-2 X 3,098,719 7/63 Skeggs 23-253 MORRIS O. WOLK, PrimaryExaminer.

DELBERT E. GANTZ, Examiner.

11. APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY PROCESSING A LIQUID HAVING TWOCONSTITUENTS OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES, COMPRISING: SOURCE MEANSFOR CONTINUOUSLY SUPPLYING THE LIQUID; A ROTARY VESSEL MOUNTED FORROTATION ABUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS HAVING A WALL DEFINING A CONICALCENTRAL CAVITY, THREE GROOVES IN SAID WALL LONGITUDINALLY SPACED APART,AND A PASSAGEWAY THROUGH SAID WALL INTERCONNECTING THE APEX PROXIMALGROOVE WITH THE APEX REMOTE GROOVE; MOTIVE MEANS COUPLED TO SAID ROTARYVESSEL FOR ROTATING SAID VESSEL ABOUT SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS; FIRSTCONDUIT MEANS HAVING AN INLET COUPLED TO SAID SOURCE MEANS AND AN OUTLETIN FLUID FLOW COMMUNICATION WITH SAID APEX PROXIMAL GROOVE, FORCONVEYING THE LIQUID TO SAID APEX PROXIMAL GROOVE AS A STREAM; SAIDVESSEL SERVING AS A CENTRIFUGE WHEREBY THE HEAVIER CONSTITUENT OF THELIQUID PASSES THROUGH SAID PASSAGEWAY FROM SAID APEX PROXIMAL GROOVE TOSAID APEX REMOTE GROOVE, AND THE LIGHTER CONSTITUENT OF THE LIQUIDPASSES ALONG SAID WALL FROM SAID APEX PROXIMAL GROOVE TO THE MEDIALGROOVE; ANALYSIS MEANS; SECOND CONDIUT MEANS HAVING AN OUTLET COUPLED TOSAID ANALYSIS MEANS AND AN INLET IN FLUID FLOW COMMUNICATION WITH ONEGROOVE OF THE GROUP OF GROOVES CONSISTING OF SAID APEX REVOTE GROOVE ANDSAID MEDIAL GROOVE, FOR CONVEYING THE CONSTITUENT THEREIN TO SAIDANALYSIS MEANS; AND THIRD CONDIUTMEANS HAVING AN INLET IN FLUID FLOWCOMMUNICATING WITH THE GROOVE OF SAID GROUP OF GROOVES, FOR CONVEYINGTHE CONSTITUENT THEREIN FROM SAID OTHER GROOVE.